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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Usain Bolt Owns These Olympics

Usain Bolt is the biggest story at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Here are five reasons why.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07: Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after competing in the Men’s 200m Round 1 Heats on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 7, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07: Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after competing in the Men’s 200m Round 1 Heats on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 7, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07: Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after competing in the Men’s 200m Round 1 Heats on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 7, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Every show has to have a star, and the headliner of the Summer Olympics is Usain Bolt. Hell, it was Usain Bolt even before the track and field events began. When two million people request to see your event -- an event that isn’t even your best -- it’s your name on the marquee.

Some would argue someone from America with more medals should be treated as the face of these Games. I could see why someone would say that, but that wouldn’t make it anymore ridiculous.

Just how ridiculous would it be? That’s what “Bomani & Jones” is here for, to explain how the confluence of Bolt, London and Jamaican history made this stage his, no matter what happens the rest of this Olympiad.

You can find a complete medal tracker at SI.com.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation’s London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic track, follow the 2012 Olympic athletics section. For more on Bolt’s attempt to make history in the 200 meters on Thursday, stay with our track and field stream for the day.

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